The creature stops and considers your words.
"You are not working for Du Moire? You came following his men... we assumed you were part of that crew. "
As no one is continuing to attack, he stares at you for a bit longer. "Very well. I will believe you, and let you live today."
With that, he dives under the water, and disappears.
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Oggil spends a bit of time trying to right the boat.
"As the seasons go and return, so may we hope our watery ally returns to our aid when we face the dread pirate. In the meantime, and in a similar vein, let us see if we can return the boat to its rightful orientation. I don't fancy swimming any longer than necessary."
Oggil spends a bit of time righting the boat and climbing back in.
Eventually, you are able to get the boat upright and climb in. You are all pretty wet, but otherwise fine to proceed.
As you approach the The Hydra’s Fang, you see it is a small galliot. There is a crew on deck, and they have yet to notice you, but you are still a fair ways out.
What do you do?
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"While we speak the path of deception, we know they left three people behind. We might alternatively claim they got drunk in a brawl and want their captain to come for them. They are a tough crew, and this may be a way to get the captain alone or with only a one or two others. "
He lowers his voice.
"A crew capable of razing an entire town is not one that I think the small group of us are able to overcome alone by force. Where force may not work, then let guile perhaps aid us."
As you discuss options for your approach, a couple additional things come to mind.
Du Moire is notorious for simply killing crew that displease him. This sort of man is not likely to bother with a rescue attempt. Maybe some of the other crew may be better inclined... but they do sound like a pretty unsympathetic bunch.
Even if you are able to convince them that you are inspectors with a "right" to board, you are approaching a band of pirates, murderers and otherwise despicable characters. You can probably assume they don't care what your rights are.
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"this won't be easy. I think we should just get on board quickly. Don't expect quarter to be accepted."
-Posted with Wayfinder
As you approach, one of the crew on board waves at you. You start to think this might not be so bad, but then they realize you are not part of the crew, and burst into action. You see 3 men on board, and they begin to take turns firing arrows at you and playing with rigging, clearly intent on setting sail.
You have 2 rounds to close (taking arrow shots, but also allowing buffs, etc), and then have to find a way on board.
A DC 13 Climb check will prove sufficient to scale the anchor line, but only 1 person per round can make the attempt. It is at the front of the ship.
It takes a DC 25 to scale the ship’s curved sides (using a rope and grappling hook reduces the Climb check to DC 5). Of course, you can all do this simultaneously, but only 1 person per rope per round.
It looks easier (DC 15 Climb check) to climb the transom (the flat rear end of the ship) than the side to reach the deck. Adding ropes still only reduces this to DC 5, however. Again, you can all climb simultaneously here.
If you want to try two different approaches, you will need to move your boat - 1 round to move to another location.
Make sense?
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Tanna, having been raised by dwarves, is always prepared with a rope and hook... She will row with Oogil then toss her rope and climb.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Round 1 Arrows:
Round 2 Arrows:
After pushing through the hail of arrows, you make way to the front of the ship.
Round 3: Oggil climbs the chain, Tanna climbes the rope.
Thran and Colleen can wait til round 4 to climb, or can try scaling the side without assistance (DC 25)
Once we have a decision from Thran and Colleen (or alternate actions), we can jump right into round 4.
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If I can see am enemy... the elven magic user stays silent as he levels a force bolt at the nearest foe.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Thran again softens up the red pirate, and Colleen scores an excellent hit, but he manages to turn just in the nick of time to avoid being killed outright. He does stop shooting and working on the rigging, however, as he is clearly disabled. He limps away for cover.
The man dressed in purple comes out of the cabin and sees you. "Kill them, you fools!" he cries, and then retreats from view.
Tanna is unable to connect with the hammer, but distracts the pirate in green long enough for Oggil to get a good punch to the face in. The pirate drops his bow and draws his longsword, and starts to attack Oggil, but he is clearly being defensive. His approach fails to draw any blood.
OK - now with three against one (and a severely damaged one at that) the green pirate surrenders... meaning, he jumps ship.
You help Colleen aboard, and come around to the stern, and find the red pirate unconscious but stable, next to the door of the cabin. You hear some rustling inside.
It is not a large ship, and the door is the only apparent way into or out of the cabin. There is also a ladder down into the hold area.
You enter the cabin to find DuMoire holding a small chest, and a longsword.
"Get off my ship!" he says, but not with as much conviction as you would expect.
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Oggil blushes an apology at Colleen.
"My form and head are as fine as a sunny day. But my thanks for your concern."
To DuMoire he sadly shakes his head.
"Like a student on his first day, you do not understand."
The dwarf steps into the room, his hands opening and non threatening.
"You have stolen that which we wish to have returned. You have also committed foul murder, which is a sin your soul will atone for in the afterlife. But the tablets are what we are after. Bring them and you may yet leave this ship alive."
Looking you over, he says "Ok, sure. Those tablets, they are in the hold. You can have them if you let me be."
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"what's the catch?" Thran is nonplussed. "that was too easy for a supposed pirate."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"In me own stylized words av Torag, 'Bust a dayle, fale me steel' so yer best rethink any possable subterfuge, pirate!" Tanna says forcefully, followed by puzzled looks of amazement and embarrassment.
She wonders where exactly that little soliloquy was conjured as she is still so young and inexperienced, then utters a silent thanks to the Father of Creation.
"No, you feel free to go yourself. I am leaving now!"
You see DuMoire is carrying a chest that looks rather heavy, but is too small to hold the tablets you seek. He is still armed - so the question is, do you trust this cutthroat pirate and leave him be, or do you decide to take him by force?
"Then we appear to be at a standoff. I will not let you take me in, as that would surely mean my death, so I might as well take you with me. And of course, the ship is sinking, so we could just wait it out and all go down together... perhaps the water will not damage the merchandise and it will still be recoverable?"